Songbird, Sunshine Superman fly at Syracuse Jazz Fest this weekend

The best-selling jazz musician of all time and an icon of the psychedelic Sixties will headline the 30th anniversary M&T Bank Syracuse Jazz Festival when Kenny G and Donovan perform at Jamesville Beach on Friday and Saturday, June 22 and 23, respectively. As usual, admission will be free.

A Syracuse tradition continues on June 22 and 23 when Syracuse Jazz Fest is staged at a new venue, Jamesville Beach Park. Festival artistic director Frank Malfitano has announced some of the featured artists:

Friday, June 22

2:30 p.m. Scholastic ensemble.

3:30 p.m. Guitarist Harri Stojka’s a tribute to Gypsy Swing.

5 p.m. Cyrille Aimee and Diego Figueiredo

6:30 p.m. Funksters Mingo Fishtrap.

8 p.m. Gregory Porter

9:30 p.m. Smooth jazz saxophonist Kenny G.

Saturday, June 23

2:30 p.m. Scholastic ensemble.

3:30 p.m. Guitarist Harri Stojka’s a tribute to Gypsy Swing.

5 p.m. Jaimoe’s Jassz Band.

6:30 p.m. Billy Vera Big Band.

8 p.m. Donovan.

9:30 p.m. The Average White Band.

11 p.m. Price Chopper Fireworks.

“Our headliners are household names,” said festival director Frank Malfitano. “But we also have some rising stars, some fan faves and a couple blasts from the past. I hope people enjoy the lineup and come over to our gorgeous new site in Jamesville.”

The fact that the festival has lasted three decades puts it in rarefied company among the longest-running American music festivals. That select group includes the Monterey Jazz Festival in California, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the Detroit International Jazz Festival and the Newport Jazz Festival, which celebrates its 58th year this summer.

Jamesville Beach is located at 4110 Westshore Manor Road off Apulia Road. Motorists may want to approach the beach from the south, as the 3,000-space parking lot sets on the south end of the park. The parking fee is $5 per vehicle.

Kenny G returns

Soprano saxophonist Kenny G returns to the festival after making a messianic appearance at the 2009 edition at Onondaga Community College where he performed for more than 30,000 listeners.

Born Kenneth Gorelick 56 years ago in Seattle, Kenny G is the biggest-selling instrumental musician of the modern era, with global sales totaling more than 75 million albums. “Songbird” was the breakout hit from his 1986 LP, “Duotones,” a disc that went on to sell a stunning 28 million copies. “Songbird” still flies high. The tune was revived by Audi for an automobile commercial televised during 2011’s Super Bowl XLV.

Donovan inducted

“Sunshine Superman” was the first major American hit for Donovan Leitch, the 66-year-old singer songwriter from Scotland who was inducted into the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame on April 14. The catchy composition reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and subsequently became the title track of the tunesmith’s third LP.

The Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame nomination credits Donovan with “singlehandedly initiating the psychedelic revolution with his album ‘Sunshine Superman.’” Jazz Fest newcomers include singers Gregory Porter and Cyrille Aimee and guitarist Diego Figueiredo.

Global appeal

The 30th annual festival has a decidedly international flavor with artists from France (Cyrille Aimee), Brazil (Diego Figueiredo) Austria (Harri Stojka’s Hot Club of Vienna) and Scotland (Donovan).

America will be well-represented by smooth jazz king Kenny G, Greg Porter, Billy Vera and his 17-piece featuring a Syracuse horn section led by saxophonist Joe Carello, original Allman Brothers Band percussionist Jaimoe and his Jasssz Band and five-time Austin Music Award-winning funksters Mingo Fishtrap.

The Average White Band, the classic funk band from Scotland, will conclude the festival at 9:30 p.m. Saturday followed by a fireworks show sponsored by Price Chopper and produced by Pyrotecnico.

Admission is free; bring your own chair.

Russ Tarby is a freelance writer for the Eagle Bulletin. Reach him at russtarby@netscape.net.